Kiko’s body was burning from exhaustion, his muscles aching as he practiced the complicated choreography again. Sweat dripped down his forehead, but he pushed through, his mind set on getting it perfect. He couldn't afford to fail—not with the constant pressure weighing on him, not with the eyes of his manager, Mr. Reyes, lingering on him with that critical gaze.

Mr. Reyes had been more demanding than usual today, his presence hovering at the edge of Kiko's thoughts, making everything feel heavier. Kiko tried to shake the unease away, but the tension only seemed to build as the minutes passed.

The door creaked open, and Kiko's heart skipped a beat. He looked over to see Mr. Reyes standing there, his arms crossed and his expression cold.

"Not fast enough," Mr. Reyes snapped. "Again."

He swallowed hard but nodded, getting back into position.

As Kiko worked through the routine again, Mr. Reyes paced behind him, his eyes following every movement with a cold, calculating intensity. Kiko tried to ignore him, focusing on the steps and not the uncomfortable feeling building up in his chest. But as the final sequence came, he stumbled—just a small misstep, barely noticeable.

Mr. Reyes’ voice was sharp when he spoke. "I said again."

"I'm trying my best..." Kiko said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper, the pleading tone in his words impossible to hide.

But Mr. Reyes wasn’t listening. He stormed forward, grabbing Kiko by the shoulders, his fingers digging into his skin with a force that made Kiko flinch. “You don’t get to talk back to me,” he growled, eyes narrowing dangerously.

He shoved Mr. Reyes back, his hands pushing against the man’s chest with all the strength he could muster. "Get off me!" Kiko shouted, his voice cracking with raw emotion.

Before Kiko could react, Mr. Reyes grabbed his face with both hands, holding him still as he leaned in. "I told you—discipline," he snarled, pressing his lips against Kiko’s in a harsh, forceful kiss.